Why Bradley Wiggins Believes that all cyclists should be wearing helmets

As cyclists we should all be fully aware of the benefits of wearing a safety helmet when out on the roads or tracks. Whilst it still isn’t law to wear any sort of safety gear, it is highly advisable for a number of reasons including having the potential to save your life.

Too Often

Hardly a day goes past without hearing about another cyclist seriously injured or killed on Britain’s roads. Whilst this highlights a serious problem in term of driver and cyclist awareness, safe driving and perhaps road layout, cyclists need take a little responsibility for their own safety. After all, in a battle between a bike and any other road vehicle, the bike will always come off worst, regardless of whose ‘fault’ it is.
This is a subject close to the heart of Britain’s favourite cyclist, Bradley Wiggins who knows only too well the potential dangers that cyclists put themselves through every day on Britain’s roads. In an interview with the Evening Standard, he said, “I think cyclists have to help themselves in terms of wearing helmets and things. I think that probably should go some way to becoming the law soon.”

Why Helmets?

Wearing a cycle helmet isn’t just about making yourself look like a top racer; it can save your life.

The first benefit of wearing a safety helmet is that you can be more noticeable to other road users. Especially if you use a brightly coloured helmet, it can be much
easier for other road users to see you, and better still, some helmets come with (or you can stick on) reflective areas which reflect the light at night time.
Another benefit is in the psychology of those around you. If you are wearing a helmet and other drivers see that you are safety conscious, they are much more likely to drive safely around you. Respect your life and others will respect it too.
The most obvious benefit is the fact that it protects your head should you fall or be hit in an accident. Helmets these days are designed to be lightweight ad comfortable so there are no excuses. They are designed so that should you fall or hit your head, the most important part of it is protected and this could save your life.

What other Safety Precautions Should I Take?

Whilst not wanting to spoil your enjoyment of cycling, safety is (and should be) a major issue, and there are a few things which you can be doing to cut down the risk of your having an accident:

Be aware at all times – Don’t cycle drunk or if you are very tired as you will be less aware of what is going on around you, and hence, less able to react to situations. Remember, that other road users can make mistakes as well, so try to be aware of what’s going on at all times. This means thinking carefully about looking at maps, not using mobile phones or listening to music.

Make sure your bike is in good condition – You need to have the best control over your bike as possible, so make sure that it’s in good repair before you set off.

Learn about unusual road layouts – Learn how to manoeuvre unusual road layouts as lack of confidence, and dithering can be just as dangerous as negotiating ajunction wrong.

Whilst often accidents including cyclists aren’t their fault, it’s usually us cyclists who get hurt. By wearing a helmet, you are greatly reducing the risk of getting seriously hurt should the worst happen to you, so if you value your life, go out and get one right now.